EFFECTS OF COMPUTER SIMULATION ON JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS’ ACHIEVEMENT AND INTEREST IN ALGEBRA IN BOSSO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF NIGER STATE

Abstract

The study is an investigation into effects of computer simulation on junior secondary school students’ achievement and interest in algebra in Bosso Local Government Area, Niger State A quasi-experimental, non-equivalent control group design was used in carrying out the research; the focus was on 540 JSS II students in Bosso Local Government Area, Minna Niger State as the population of the study. Fifty-four students, from two schools (male and female) sampled, were used as sample for the study. Intact classes were assigned by balloting to either experimental or control group and separately taught by their regular mathematics teachers who had earlier been trained for the purpose. All the groups were pre tested and post tested. Algebra Achievement Test (AAT) containing twenty multiple choice test and an Algebra Interest Inventory (AII) containing twenty items were used as instruments for both the control and the experimental groups. Four research questions and six hypotheses guided the study. Mean and standard deviation were used in answering the research questions while Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) was used in testing the hypotheses at p<0.05 level of significance. The results showed that the use of computer simulation approach in teaching affects students’ achievement and interest in algebra. Also there was no significant interaction effect between the teaching method and gender on students’ achievement and interest in Algebra. The study recommended among other things the incorporation of computer simulation approach in mathematics text books, organization of workshop and seminars for teachers on the use of computer simulation approach in the teaching and learning of mathematics especially in Algebra.